University of Chicago's Campus North Residential Commons Honored for Community Impact and Design and Construction Excellence

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Published: Nov 20, 2017 11:46 a.m. ET

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Award-winning project is led by Mortenson Construction and architect Studio Gang

CHICAGO, Nov. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Chicago's Campus North Residential Commons has won three awards from the prestigious Design-Build Institute of America, including the first-ever Chairman's Award for Community Impact and Social Responsibility. Following a highly competitive judging process, the university's first major design-build project was one of two recipients of this new honor and also won awards for merit and excellence in design.

The Chairman's Award for Community Impact and Social Responsibility was created this year to "reward design-build teams which have shown extraordinary commitment to triple bottom-line success—economic, environmental and social—and which have clearly improved the communities they've engaged," said DBIA CEO and Executive Director Lisa Washington.

Washington also commented that the UChicago team, led by design-builder Mortenson Construction and architect Studio Gang, "went above and beyond" to engage the Hyde Park and Chicago communities. Chicago residents performed 39.87% of the workforce hours; and minority- and women-owned businesses received 43.96% of the construction dollars paid to date.

"We are very proud to receive these awards for the Campus North project from the Design-Build Institute of America," said Larry Blouin, UChicago executive director of capital project delivery. "The university set ambitious and visionary goals for this residence hall, from the design and construction to LEED Gold certification and community involvement and connection, and the DBIA awards recognize these achievements."

"Underscoring the university's commitment to academic success and sustainability, all of the systems of the building work together to ensure high-performance standards for both the students and the architecture," said Jeanne Gang, founding principal of Studio Gang. "We designed an architecture that really feels like home for the students, but that simultaneously opens to and engages with the community."

"Like UChicago and Studio Gang, we at Mortenson believe how you build is as important as what you build," said Greg Werner, Mortenson senior vice-president and head of the Chicago office. "Our project team was passionate about generating economic opportunity for businesses and individuals in the Hyde Park and greater Chicago communities. I am thrilled to say we far exceeded our original project goals for a diverse workforce and minority- and women-owned business participation."

The Campus North residence hall opened in fall 2016, a full year ahead of the university's original plan due to the efficiencies of the design-build process. The 400,000-square-foot residence hall is composed of four buildings, ranging in height from a single-story dining commons to a 15-story residential tower with a student Reading Room at the top. The buildings overlap, forming a new portal at the corner of the university that is complemented by plazas, walkways, courtyards, and retail. The portal welcomes both students and the community to campus, inviting them to enjoy these new amenities.

About the University of ChicagoThe University of Chicago is a leading academic and research institution that has driven new ways of thinking since its founding in 1890. As an intellectual destination, the University draws scholars and students from around the world to its home in Hyde Park and campuses around the globe. The University provides a distinctive educational experience, empowering individuals to challenge conventional thinking and pursue research that produces new understanding and breakthroughs with global impact. www.uchicago.edu

About MortensonFounded in 1954, Mortenson is a U.S.-based, family-owned construction and development services company. As one of the nation's top builders, Mortenson provides a complete range of construction services, including planning, program management, preconstruction, general contracting, construction management and design-build. The company also is a leader in real estate development, developing all asset types. Mortenson has operations across North America with offices in Chicago, Denver, Fargo, Iowa City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and in Canada. www.mortenson.com

About Studio GangStudio Gang is an architecture and urban design practice based in Chicago and New York. Led by MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang and recognized internationally for a design process that foregrounds the relationships between individuals, communities and environments, Studio Gang produces award-winning work that ranges in scale from the 82-story Aqua Tower to the 14-acre Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. Current projects include the new United States Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil; a unified campus for California College of the Arts in San Francisco; and an expansion of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. www.studiogang.com

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